Vibratory massage apparatus



May 30, 1967 MURPHY ET AL 3,322,116

VIBRATORY MAS SAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. 4 FRANK M. MURPHY W/LL/AM STURM May 30, 1967' F. M. MURPHY ETAL 3,322,116

VIBRATORY MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS. FRANK M. MURPHY WILL/AM STURM F. M. MURPHY ET AL VIBRATORYMASSAGE APPARATUS May 30, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 13, 1964INVENTORS.

FRANK M MURPHY BY WILL/AM STUEM United States Patent Filed Feb. 13,1964, Ser. No. 344,725 9 Claims. (Cl. 12833) This invention relatesgenerally to motor driven massaging devices and more particularly to avibratory massage apparatus adapted to be installed in a suitable chair,table, or the like for benefically massaging the back and other parts ofthe human body.

The beneficial effects upon the human body of various physical forcesand motions such as vibration and massage have long been recognized.Accordingly, there have heretofore been provided a great variety ofdevices and machines, both manual and electrical or motor driven, forapplying such forces to the body. Perhaps the best known of theautomatic massaging devices are those which take the form of a chair ortable on which the user rests comfortably while receiving the beneficialtreatment. The appeal of the massaging chairs is of course great becauseone can either use the same as an ordinary piece of furniture or elsepassively sit in it and utilize its massaging actions.

However, despite their desirability, the prior massaging chairs and thelike have been characterized by certain disadvantageous features whichhave militated against more universal acceptance thereof. In general theprior motion producing devices were complex arrangements which oftenincluded various levers, cranks, pulleys and belts in addition to theusual motor and massage rollers. Not only were these devicesprohibitively expensive and subject to frequent breakdown, but they alsonecessitated a chair which was bulky, cumbersome and ungainly inappearance. Frequently, the great number of moving parts resulted inundesirable noises during operation. Where vibratory motion wasprovided, the same generally was produced by an unbalanced weight on themotor shaft. Since the motor was not readily accessible, it wasvirtually impossible to change or vary the amplitude of vibration beingprovided. Frequently, the bearing relationship of the rollers againstthe body of the user was rigidly fixed so that there was no compensationfor the varying weights of persons using the device. In addition, it wasfrequently impossible to obtain one kind of motion without the other,i.e., vibration without roller movement and vice versa.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide avibratory massage apparatus which overcomes all of the disadvantagesdescribed hereinabove.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vibratory massageapparatus of the character described which is compact and relativelysmall in size so that the same may be readily installed in chairs ofordinary size and design.

A further object is to afford a vibratory massage apparatus of thecharacter described in which three forms of motion are available,namely, vibration alone, massaging roller motion alone, and combinedvibration and massaging roller motion.

Still another object is to provide a vibratory massage apparatus of thecharacter described having novel vibration producing means and in whichthe amplitude of vibration may be readily adjusted as desired.

Yet another object is to afford a vibratory massage apparatus of thecharacter described in which the rollers are yieldably mounted so thatthey are able to comfortably accommodate, and compensate for, persons ofdiffering weight. A related object is to afiford such an apparatus inwhich the rollers are capable of relatively free or floating motion sothat they are able to closely follow the body contour of the user.

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Still a further object is to provide a vibratory massage apparatus ofthe character described having novel motion and direction reversingmeans which oscillate the rollers over the full length of the back.

Yet a further object is to afford a vibratory massage apparatus of thecharacter described having novel hearing means which virtually insureagainst their breakdown or replacement.

Another object is :to provide a vibratory massage apparatus of thecharacter described which may be relatively inexpensively manufactured,and yet is most durable, trouble free, simple to use, and efficient forthe purposes intended.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel featuresof construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details ofthe structure may be made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantage of the invention.

For the purpose of faciliating an understanding of our invention, wehave illustrated in the accompany drawings a preferred embodimentthereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection withthe following description, our invention, its mode of construction,assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readilyunderstood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference areemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair showing a vibratory massageapparatus embodying the principles of the invention operationallyinstalled therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of thevibratory massage apparatus removed from the chair;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 3-3 in FIG. 2 andviewed in the direction indicated;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of line 5-5 inFIG. 4 and viewed in the direction indicated;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, partially in elevation and withthe rollers and spring members removed, taken on the plane of line 66 inFIG. 2 and viewed in the direction indicated;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 77 in FIG. 2viewed in the direction indicated, and showing the internal structure ofthe vibration producing means;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of the electrical circuitry of theapparatus; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on the plane of line 99in FIG. 6, viewed in the direction indicated, and illustrating in dottedoutline the relative position of the direction reversing means duringvarious stages of operation.

'Referring more particularly to the various figures of the drawings, thereference numeral 10 indicates generally a vibratory massage apparatusembodying the principles of the invention. The apparatus 10 comprises anelongated central support member or track 12 which may be substantiallychannel-shaped in cross section as indicated in FIG. 3 of the drawings.A suitable motor M is secured to the track 12 adjacent one end thereof,and the motor may include a cooling fan F.

A rigid bearing bar 14 is longitudinally secured to the front surface ofthe track 12, and the bar is spaced there- 3 from by means of a spacercollar 16 and a reinforcing bar 18 (see FIG. 6). A pair of sprocketwheels 20 and 22 is rotatably mounted on the bearing 'bar 14 at oppositeends thereof, and the wheel'20 is coupled to the drive shaft 24 of themotor M. An endless pitch chain 26 of usual construction is mountedbetween the sprocket wheels 20 and 22, so that the same moves inresponse to the rotation of the motor drive shaft. The rigid bearing bar14 serves not only as a mount for the sprocket wheels 20 and 22, butalso as a force transmitting member which absorbs virtually all of thestresses to which the sprocket wheels are normally subjected. As aresult, substantially all wear on the sprocket wheels and their bearingsis eliminated, and the pitch chain 26 may likewise be more eflicientlymounted with greater tautness than was possible with other moreconventional sprocket and chain arrangements. In addition, the bar 14comprises a safety feature by affording a form of chain guard renderingit virtually impossible to catch a finger or other object between thechain and sprocket wheels.

Slidably mounted on the track 12 is a carriage indicated generally bythe reference numeral 30. The carriage 30 comprises a carrier member 32of generally inverted channel cross section, and including a web 34, apair of arms 36, 36 and a pair of flanges 38, 38 (see FIG. 3). Thecarrier member 32 is mounted in opposed relationship on the track 12,and is retained thereon by means of a plate such as 40 connected to theflanges 38. A plurality of slide bearings such as 42, made of nylon orTeflon or the like, may be mounted on the carrier member 32 tofacilitate the sliding movement of said member along the track 12.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 9, it is important to note that the web34 of the carrier member 32 is formed with a transverse slot 44 adjacentone end thereof. A coupling member or stub pin 46 having a central bore48 and an enlarged diameter base portion 50 is rotatably connected tothe chain 26 by a connector pin 52 positioned through the bore and oneof the chain links (see also FIG. 5). As indicated, the stub pin 46projects through the slot 44 so that the base portion 50 abuts the innersurface of the carrier web 34, thereby coupling the carrier member 32 tothe chain 26.

The manner in which oscillatory movement of the carrier 32 is achievedmay now be appreciated by referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings. Assuminga clockwise movement of the chain 26 and stub pin 46, when the pin ispositioned on the right side of the chain as viewed in FIG. 9, thecarrier is caused to move downwardly. When the stub pin reaches thesprocket wheel 20, it must of course follow the chain around said wheeland then move upwardly on the left side of the chain. At this point ofdirection reversal, the stub pin moves from right to left within theslot 44 and causes the carrier to move upwardly. When the pin 46 reachesthe sprocket wheel 22,

the same procedure is of course repeated in reverse so that the carrieris thereby caused to oscillate up and down along the full length of thechain.

To facilitate the movement of the stub pin 46 within the slot 44, thesame may be made from a low friction material such as nylon or Teflon.In addition, a plate 54 having an identical slot in registry with theslot 44 may be secured to the web 34 to increase the thickness of theslot marginal edges and reduce any cutting effect of said edges on thepin 46.

A pair of outwardly bowed spring members 56, 56 is connected in opposedrelationship to the plate 40 and carrier member flanges 38 At theiropposite ends the spring members 56 are connected under tension to arigid roller frame 58. The roller frame 58 comprises a pair of crossmembers 60, 60, a pair of axles 62, 62, journalled through said crossmembers at opposite ends thereof, and a plurality of massage rollers 64rotatably mounted on said axles. It will thus be appreciated that therollers 64 are capable of resilient motion toward the track 12 whensuflicient force is exerted thereon to overcome the normal outwardurging of the spring members 56. Additionally, the band-like springmembers permit a limited amount of torsional movement of the rollers inall directions. In this respect, the rollers may be said to be mountedin free floating relationship.

Mounted on the roller frame 58 is an electrical vibration producingmeans indicated generally by the reference numeral 65 (see FIGS. 3 and7). The vibration means 65 comprises a vibrating plate 66 which isconnected to the cross members 60. Rigidly secured to the inner surfaceof the vibrating plate 66 is one arm 68 of a bifurcated member made of amagnetic metal and having a second arm 70, said arms being resilientlyconnected by an integral arcuate segment 72. A metal core 74 andelectrical coil 76 of ordinary construction is mounted on the second arm70. When current flows through the coil 76, the magnetic flux in thecore 74 tends to attract the arm 68. Where the power source comprisesalternating current, the cyclical changes of magnetic polarity result ina vibration of the arms 68 and 70 and the vibrating plate 66. Since theplate 66 is connected to the roller frame 58 which is in turn mounted onthe resilient spring members 56, the entire roller frame and the rollers64 are caused to vibrate. A protective housing such as 78 may beconnected to the plate 66 to complete the vibration means 65.

Turning to the circuit diagram of FIG. 8, it will be seen thatindividual controls are provided for the motor M and the vibrationproducing means 65. Connected serially with the motor M is a switch 80.A second switch 82 is provided for energizing the vibration means 65,and a variable resistor or rheostat R is likewise connected seriallywith said means. By adjusting the rheostat R, the amplitude of vibrationproduced by the means 65 may likewise be adjusted. It will thus beappreciated that the apparatus 10 may be operated to provide movement ofthe rollers 64 alone, vibration of the rollers 64 alone or combinedmovement and vibration of the rollers 64. In

addition, the amplitude of vibration may also be varied.

the apparatus 10, he may cause the rollers 64 to oscillate and massagethe full length of the back, or he may stop the rollers at any desiredpoint on the back to obtain the beneficial results of the vibration. Theoperator of course leans back against the rollers and the spring members56 permit said rollers to yield resiliently as required by the bearingweight of the particular operator. In addition, the previously describedfree floating mounting of the rollers permits said rollers to readilyfollow the f body contour of the user for most beneficial results.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it should I be apparentwithout further description that we'have' provided a novelvibratory'massage apparatus which is compact and may be convenientlyinstalled in any suitable.

chair, table, or the like. The apparatus may be used to providevibration and massage, either singly or in combination, and theamplitude of the vibration may be adjusted as desired. Moreover, thebearing and direction reversing means are of a simplified and virtuallyindestructible construction which insures long and trouble freeoperation.

It should of course be appreciated that while the apparatus has beenshown and described as mounted in an ordinary chair C, the same maylikewise be mounted in any other suitable structure such as contourchairs, chairs with reclining backs, padded tables, and the like. Itshould likewise be appreciated that while the rollers have beendescribed as resiliently mounted on the carriage by means of the springmembers 56, they may also be rigidly mounted on the carriage. Thus, forexample, the entire apparatus 10, and particularly the track 12, couldbe resiliently mounted in the chair or other structure. In such a case,the entire apparatus would be caused to vibrate. It is believed that ourinvention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of itsadvantages should be readily understood from the foregoing withoutfurther description, and it should also be manifest that while aperferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described forillustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capableof wide variation within the purview of our invention as defined in theappended claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. Vibratory massage apparatus comprising a track, a carriage mounted onsaid track, a plurality of massage rollers, a pair outwardly bowedspring members connected at on end thereof to said carriage, saidrollers being connected to the opposite ends of said spring members andin spaced relationship with said track, means connected to said rollersfor vibrating said rollers and springs, drive means, and means coupledwith said drive means and carriage for reciprocating said carriage alongsaid track.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said second mentioned meanscomprises a vibration plate connected to said rollers, and electricalvibration producing means secured to said vibration plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which adjustment means is electricallyassociated with said vibration producing means for varying the amplitudeof vibration produced thereby.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said last mentioned means comprisesan endless chain coupled to said drive means, and a stub pin mounted onsaid chain, said carriage being formed with a transverse slot, said pinbeing slidably accommodated in said slot.

5. Vibratory massage apparatus comprising an elongated track, a rigidbearing bar secured to said track in parallelism therewith, a sprocketwheel rotatably mounted at each end of said bearing bar, and endlesschain mounted on said sprocket wheels, an electric motor mounted on saidtrack and drivingly coupled to one of said sprocket wheels, a carriagemounted on said track, a massage roller frame, a pair of relativelybroad outwardly bowed spring members connected at one end thereof tosaid carriage, said frame being connected to the opposite ends of saidspring members in spaced relationship with said track, means mounted onsaid carriage for vibrating said frame, and means coupled with saidcarriage for reciprocating said carriage along said track.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said frame comprises a pair ofparallel rigid cross members, a pair of axles journalled between saidcross members at opposite ends thereof, and a plurality of massagerollers rotatably sesame mounted on each of said aides, said springmembers being connected to said cross members.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said second mentioned meanscomprises a vibration plate connected to said cross members, electricalvibration producing means secured to said vibration plate, andadjustment means electrically associated with said vibration producingmeans for varying the amplitude of vibration produced thereby.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said carriage comprises a weboverlying said track, said web being formed with a transverse slot, andsaid last mentioned means comprises a stub pin mounted on said chain,said pin being slidably accommodated in said slot.

9. Vibratory massage apparatus for mounting in a chair or the likecomprising an elongated track of substantially channel-shaped crosssection having a planar base wall, an elongated rigid bearing barsecured to the inner surface of said base Wall and in parallelismtherewith, a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted at each end of saidbearing bar, an endless chain mounted on said sprocket wheels, a stubpin mounted on said chain and projecting away from said base wall, anelectric motor connected to the opposite surface of said base wall anddrivingly coupled to one of said sprocket wheels, a channel-shapedcarriage having a web and a pair of arms mounted in opposed relationshipon said track, said carriage web being formed with a transverse slotaccommodating said pin there-through for reciprocating said carriageover said track, a pair of relatively broad outwardly bowed springmembers connected in opposed relationship to said carriage, a massageroller frame having a pair of rigid cross members connected to theopposite ends of said spring members and spaced from said track, aplurality of massage rollers rotatably mounted on said frame, avibration plate connected to said cross members and adapted to vibratesaid frame and rollers, electrical vibration means secured to saidvibration plate, rhe-ostat means associated with said vibration meansfor varying the amplitude of vibration produced thereby, an electricswitch serially connected to said motor for activating said motor, and asecond electric switch serially connected to said vibration meanswhereby said rollers may be caused to reciprocate without vibration,vibrate without reciprocating and simultaneously reciprocate andvibrate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,817,077 8/1931 Gustaveson128-57 2,156,839 5/1939 Butfalow 128-49 2,320,261 5/1943 Bufialow 128-472,884,923 5/1959 Butfalow 128-57 2,972,347 2/1961 McNair 128-57 X3,093,497 10/1961 Nunes 128-57 3,113,567 12/1963 Russell 128-33 RICHARDA. GAUDET, Primaiy Examiner. L. W'. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner.

1. VIBRATORY MASSAGE APPARATUS COMPRISING A TRACK, A CARRIAGE MOUNTED ONSAID TRACK, A PLURALITY OF MASSAGE ROLLERS, A PAIR OUTWARDLY BOWEDSPRING MEMBERS CONNECTED AT ON END THEREOF TO SAID CARRIAGE, SAIDROLLERS BEING CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SPRING MEMBERS ANDIN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID TRACK, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ROLLERSFOR VIBRATING SAID ROLLERS AND SPRINGS, DRIVE MEANS, AND MEANS COUPLEDWITH SAID DRIVE MEANS AND CARRIAGE FOR RECIPROCATING SAID CARRIAGE ALONGSAID TRACK.